UPDATE: The MTA agreed to reschedule some subway work after locals complained that shutting down the L during a festival would hurt businesses.
Originally scheduled for the weekend of June 15 through 17, that L train shutdown will now be pushed back a week to June 22 through 24, an MTA spokesman told Metro.
“We are pleased that we were able to accommodate the community’s request by rescheduling,” spokesman Charles Seaton said. “Of course, we will continue to make every endeavor to avoid major shutdowns on weekends which interfere with important events in communities served by the L line.”
Metro’s original story is below:
The MTA should not shut down the L train on holiday and festival weekends,officials said yesterday.
Local politicians said that the MTA should reschedule shutdowns that are planned for the L train two weekends in upcoming months.
One shutdown is planned for Memorial Day weekend later this month, and the second is planned during the Northside Festival, beginning June 15.
These events are important to funnel cash toward local stores, politicians said, and shutting the L train would hurt their business.
State Sen. Daniel Squadron said these L train shutdowns were announced without first consulting the community.
“We understand that planned maintenance to the subway system is essential and shutdown dates will never be ideal, but it is very important that the MTA follow through on its commitment to community engagement and reschedule these shutdowns,” local politicians including Squadron wrote in a letter.
MTA spokesman Aaron Donovan signaled that the shutdowns would continue as planned.
“We are sorry for the inconvenience this creates for L train customers, but this is unavoidable and necessary work to keep the L train running smoothly,” he told Metro.
